Bahá’u’lláh

Amongst the proofs demonstrating the truth
of this Revelation is this, that in every age and Dispensation,
whenever the invisible Essence was revealed
in the person of His Manifestation, certain
souls, obscure and detached from all worldly entanglements,
would seek illumination from the Sun of
Prophethood and Moon of Divine guidance, and
would attain unto the Divine Presence. For this reason,
the divines of the age and those possessed of
wealth, would scorn and scoff at these people. Even
as He hath revealed concerning them that erred:
“Then said the chiefs of His people who believed
not, ‘We see in Thee but a man like ourselves; and
we see not any who have followed Thee except our
meanest ones of hasty judgment, nor see we any excellence
in you above ourselves: nay, we deem you
liars.’” They caviled at those holy Manifestations,
and protested saying: “None hath followed you except
the abject amongst us, those who are worthy of
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no attention.” Their aim was to show that no one
amongst the learned, the wealthy, and the renowned
believed in them. By this and similar proofs they
sought to demonstrate the falsity of Him that speaketh
naught but the truth.

In this most resplendent Dispensation, however,
this most mighty Sovereignty, a number of illumined
divines, of men of consummate learning, of doctors
of mature wisdom, have attained unto His Court,
drunk the cup of His divine Presence, and been invested
with the honor of His most excellent favor.
They have renounced, for the sake of the Beloved, the
world and all that is therein….

All these were guided by the light of the Sun of
Divine Revelation, confessed and acknowledged His
truth. Such was their faith, that most of them renounced
their substance and kindred, and cleaved to
the good pleasure of the All-Glorious. They laid
down their lives for their Well-Beloved, and surrendered
their all in His path. Their breasts were made
targets for the darts of the enemy, and their heads
adorned the spears of the infidel. No land remained
which did not drink the blood of these embodiments
of detachment, and no sword that did not bruise their
necks. Their deeds, alone, testify to the truth of their
words. Doth not the testimony of these holy souls,
who have so gloriously risen to offer up their lives
for their Beloved that the whole world marveled
at the manner of their sacrifice, suffice the people of
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this day? Is it not sufficient witness against the faithlessness
of those who for a trifle betrayed their faith,
who bartered away immortality for that which perisheth,
who gave up the Kawthar of the Divine
Presence for salty springs, and whose one aim in life
is to usurp the property of others? Even as thou dost
witness how all of them have busied themselves with
the vanities of the world, and have strayed far from
Him Who is the Lord, the Most High.

Be fair: Is the testimony of those acceptable and
worthy of attention whose deeds agree with their
words, whose outward behavior conforms with their
inner life? The mind is bewildered at their deeds,
and the soul marveleth at their fortitude and bodily
endurance. Or is the testimony of these faithless souls
who breathe naught but the breath of selfish desire,
and who lie imprisoned in the cage of their idle fancies,
acceptable? Like the bats of darkness, they lift
not their heads from their couch except to pursue the
transient things of the world, and find no rest by
night except as they labor to advance the aims of
their sordid life. Immersed in their selfish schemes,
they are oblivious of the Divine decree. In the daytime
they strive with all their soul after worldly
benefits, and in the night season their sole occupation
is to gratify their carnal desires. By what law or
standard could men be justified in cleaving to the
denials of such petty-minded souls and in ignoring
the faith of them that have renounced, for the sake
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of the good pleasure of God, their life and substance,
their fame and renown, their reputation and
honor?…

With what love, what devotion, what exultation
and holy rapture, they sacrificed their lives in the
path of the All-Glorious! To the truth of this all witness.
And yet, how can they belittle this Revelation?
Hath any age witnessed such momentous happenings?
If these companions be not the true strivers
after God, who else could be called by this name?
Have these companions been seekers after power or
glory? Have they ever yearned for riches? Have they
cherished any desire except the good pleasure of God?
If these companions, with all their marvelous testimonies
and wondrous works, be false, who then is
worthy to claim for himself the truth? I swear by
God! Their very deeds are a sufficient testimony, and
an irrefutable proof unto all the peoples of the earth,
were men to ponder in their hearts the mysteries of
Divine Revelation. “And they who act unjustly shall
soon know what lot awaiteth them!”…

Consider these martyrs of unquestionable sincerity,
to whose truthfulness testifieth the explicit text of
the Book, and all of whom, as thou hast witnessed,
have sacrificed their life, their substance, their wives,
their children, their all, and ascended unto the loftiest
chambers of Paradise. Is it fair to reject the testimony
of these detached and exalted beings to the
truth of this pre-eminent and Glorious Revelation,
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and to regard as acceptable the denunciations which
have been uttered against this resplendent Light by
this faithless people, who for gold have forsaken their
faith, and who for the sake of leadership have repudiated
Him Who is the First Leader of all mankind?
This, although their character is now revealed
unto all people who have recognized them as those
who will in no wise relinquish one jot or one tittle
of their temporal authority for the sake of God’s
holy Faith, how much less their life, their substance,
and the like.